Sprag type overrunning clutch



Aug. 22, 1950 J. T. GONDEK SPRAG TYPE OVERRUNNING CLUTCH s Sheefls-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1946 m it/1%,

/F P1 2 a Inventor JOHN T GONDEK 27%;. [5/ Attorffi Aug. 22, 1950 J. T. GONDEK 2,520,004

SPRAG TYPE OVERRUNNING CLUTCH Filed Dec. 25, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ZI I/ I20 Inventor:

F1976. JOHN T GONDEK Br 9 Attorn 22, 5 J. 'r. GONDEK 2,520,004

SPRAG TYPE OVERRUNNING CLUTCH Filed Dec. as, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.1)

R i 36b FtgflO Inventor: JOHN T GONDEK Attorney Patented Aug. 22, 1950 essence UNITED", STATES PATENT orri cs SPRAG TYPE 'OVERRUNNING CLUTCH John T. Gondek, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Northern Ordnance, Incorporated, Fridley, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application December 23, 1946, Serial No. 717,884

7 Claims. ('Cl. 192 i5.1) 1i, 2

This invention relates to a clutch and particu- Fig. 7 is a partial section taken on line 'i'? larly to a clutch of the overrunning type. Such of 8; g clutches comprise two coaxial members with 8 15 a Partlal 860131011 taken Q 111118 -5 spaced surfaces and means disposed between f these surfaces so th t h one of Said Fig. 9 1s a central vertical sectionthrough a hers is driven in one direction it will turn the other member but when driven in the opposite direction it will not turn the other member.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and efficient structure of overrunning clutch and one which is very compact so that it can be used where there is little space or room.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a structure of overrunning clutch comprismodified structure;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the modification of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line H-ii of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a partial View in end elevation as seen from the left of Fig. 1, plate '25 being shown in dotted lines. I

Referring to the drawings, a shaft it is shown 15 which is carried in and journaled in bushing mg member havmg cylmdncal penphery a i! secured in the bore of a bearing i2 which second member having cylindrical sqrmce can be secured to a suitable supporting member spaced from t .penphery together with a by bolts 13 extending through base flanges i'iia serles or multiplicity of comparatively small thereof. shaft 3 extends beyond bearing members disposed between saidperiphery and and has secured thereto in any suitable manner, surface, said last mentioned members being of as by a key M, a driving member m Member general oblong or elliptical shape in a cross sec 55 has a hub 55a adjacent bearing i2, and is pl-m tion taken perpendicular to the axis of said first Vided With a cylindrical periphery 5531 Shaft mentmned member, Said last mentioned It] projects beyond member I55 and has jourbel's preferably being magnetized with one pole 2 naled thereon a member 58 provided with a bnsh'e adjacent said periphery and the other pole adjaing 59 which turns on shaft n Mamba? ggvh 0911b S (Jylindfical sulfacean annular portion iEa surrounding periphery It is another object of the invention to pm- It?) and having a cylindrical wall iiib spaced vide such a structure as set forth in e p from periphery I612. Disposed between periphery cedin pararaph, together with simple a d effiuse and surface lab is a series or multiplicity cient means for supporting said last mentioned of comparatively small members 28. While these members and holding them in spaced relation. members might be variously formedpthey are It is also an object of the invention to provide preferably, and in the embodiment of the ina combined overrunning clutch and bearing. vention illustrated, made of general oblon'g'or These and other objects and advantages of elliptical form in a cross section taken-perthe invention will be fully set forth in the folpendiculal t e a s 0f Shaft it and thusioi lowing description made in connection with the members it and 18. Members it, it and 5S, accompanying drawings in which like reference as described, are coaxial; As shown inFig. 2, characters refer to similar parts throughout the the members 29 have their Smaller and rounded several Views and in which; ends in substantial engagement with periphery Fig. l is a central longitudinal section through F and Surface I319 and each of said membgm the device; is disposed with its longitudinal central axis at Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2- 2 a Slight angle radius drawn the of Figl) as indicated by the arrows; center of shaft in to its center. Also snown Fig. 3 is a partial section similar to Fig. 2 In members?!) are dlsposed close ioggthgr so that they are 1n contact along their sides. showing a modification, M mba 20 f b1 B Fig. i is a section taken substantially on line are Dr? em maygnu lzvd wmh Q ["4 f W0 3 c t d b th pole at the end adJacent periphery I61) and the 5 0 9 9 y e j t other pole at the opposite end or the 5 a slmllar to 2 snowmg a cent surface I82; and thus constitute permanent modification said view being taken along line t The members 25 fe bl .h of F 6; ends perpendicular to the axis of member i5 and Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 65 of Fig. member !8 has a flat surface We engaged by 5, as indicated by the arrows, some parts being one end of member [6. An annular plate 21' is shown in side elevation; provided having substantially the same diameter as portion I81; and the same engages the flat end of member |8a and the end of member l6 beyond shoulder Hia. Plate 2| will be held in place by a plurality of circumferentially spaced screws 22 extending through the same and threaded into portion I8a. Plate 2| is shown as having an annular slot 2|a in which an oil sealing washer 23 is disposed having its inner annular surface engaging hub ISa. Plate 2| also preferably has an aperture 2 lb therethroug'h which will be shaped in cross section similar to members 20, as shown in Fig. 2, and will be slightly larger than the cross section of a member 2|]. Preferably thin annular plates 24. are disposed at the ends of members 20. and will engage said ends as well as surface I80 and the inner surface of plate 2| These members, can be made of suitable metal, fiber or plastic. A plate 25 may be provided and held by one of the bolts 22, the same being disposed over aperture 2|b and movable to uncover said aperture when said bolt 22 is loosened.

In operation members l6 and I8 will be brought into the relation shown in the drawings and the members 20 will,be placed between said members with members I 6 and I8 inposition with their. axis. substantially vertical. The members 20 could be all placed in position before plate 2| is applied. If desired, .pla'te 2| could be. applied and then members 2|] could be successively placed .in position through aperture 21b which would then be uncovered by plate 25. ,With the structure assembled as shown it..will be seen that when shaft Ill and member I6 are rotated ina counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 2, member I6 will run free .and member |8 will not bedriven. Members 20 will shift very slightly with their ends adjacent member l6 moving very slightlyin the direction of movement of member Hi. There will of course be abundant lubricant supplied. between members 20, periphery l6!) and. surface .|8b. When shaft I is driven in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 2. as indicated by the arrow; then members 20 shift slightly in position and bind between members I6 and I8; so that member. I8 is immediately driven through members 20. The gripping action ot mernbers 20 is instantaneous upon clockwise rotation of member l6. so that there is no loose ne'ss' or backlash in the clutch. .The members 20 being magnetized are attracted by the metal in members It and |8 and the magnetization causes members 2|] to attempt to swing to radial position. The magnetization therefore holds members '20 in the position shown in Fig; 2 so that they do not move any appreciable distance in a clockwise direction about their central axes perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

In Figs. to 8 'a modified form of the construction' isshown in which members are spaced some distance apart and the .same are carried in acage 26 havingportions 26a..disposed at the ends ofjnembers 20. Portions 26b. extend from one portion 260. to the surface of. the other pore tion a between the members 20'. Members 20 will also, preferablygbe magnetized in the structure ,sh0W n. in .Fig. 5. The operation of the structureshown inFig'. 5 is,the same as that already describedand it is believed it will not benecessary to repeat the same.

In Figs. 3,, fl and 1 1 a further modification is shown in whichmejrnbers 20 are imbedded in a ring 2|] which will be made of resilient material, such as rubber or some rubber compound ,or similar material. Ring 30 has portions 30a extending along the ends of members 20. Members 20 preferably will be bonded to ring 30. In both the modifications shown in Fig. 5 and that shown in Figs. 3 and 4.- the members 20 will have the same position relative to the axis of member l6, as shown in Fig. 2. With the structure shown in Fig. 4 the ring 30 will hold members 20 in the desired position and when they shift slightly in their gripping movement said ring will return the same to their normal position when the clutch releases.

In Figs. 9 to 11 a modified form of structure is shown which comprises both a bearing and a clutch. A member 36 is provided, the same being illustrated as. a bearing housing having a cylindrical bore 36a therein and having flanges 36b. atthesides thereof adapted to be connected to a suitable base or support by bolts 31 extending through said flanges. Spring locking washers 38 are shown under the heads of bolts 31. A ee e em e a h d-" bemuse and this has a cylindrical periphery spaced some distance from the wallof bore 36 .A plurality of mem bers 4'1 ar rovided which re identical with the memb'ers 20 already described. These are disposed with their longitudinal central axes at a slight angle to the radius. ,Membfei's 4| a're circumferent'ially spaced and keptv in proper relation by the transversely extendingportibns 42a ore cage 4 which is similar mj age 26 and has side members 421; bf annular form disposed at the nd of tie he .1-, fie weei a isec t i em.- bers 4| bearing members are disposed between shaft 40 and the wall of bore36d and these will be in engagement with said shaft and wall.

Bearings members 4'3 are also kept in pdsmbn by cage 42. Bearing members 43 can be in the form either of rollers or balls; Members M will, like members 20, preferably be magnetized and the ends thereof adjacent shaft 4!! and the wall of bore 36a will form' the positive and negative poles of said magnet. Members 4| thus tend to move to mom position. In many installations it is desired to have a shaft which can only rotate in one direction.

With the structure described member forms a bearing for shaft 40, which shaft rotates on the bearing members 43; The shaft 4.0 can rotate freely in a counter-clockwise direction; as seen in Fig. 9. Members 4| are merely moved slightly to a more angular position by the rotation of shaft 4| in such direction and oiier no. resistance to such rotation. However when shaft 4| is turned to move in a clockwise direction,,as seen in Fig. 9,.rnembers 4| immediately bind between i. or overrunning clutch. If balls are used for bearing members 43 one or more or" the same could be disposed between adjacent portions 42a longitudinally of shaft 40., I I

The relative size of members m and 4| has been somewhat exaggerated the drawings for the purpose of cl'e'arness. In actual practice these members would be relatively smaller.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a very simple and yet highly efiioient structure of overrunning clutch. The members 20 can be made quite small and can be inserted between rotating members in many structures where there would not be room for other forms of overrunning clutch structures. As stated, the magnetization of members 20 holds them efliciently in the desired position. The structure is quite simple and easily made and assembled. The same has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efi'icient.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An overrunning clutch having in combination, a member having a cylindrical periphery, an annular member coaxial therewith and having a cylindrical surface spaced from said periphery, and a series of members disposed between said periphery and surface of substantially elliptical shape in a cross section taken perpendicular to the axis of said members and each having its longitudinal central axis at a small angle to the radius of said first mentioned member drawn to its center, and each of said last mentioned members being magnetized with one pole adjacent said periphery and the other pole adjacent said surface.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, said last mentioned members having flat ends perpendicular to their longitudinal central axes respectively and thin annular rings at each of said ends.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, a plate overlying on end of said series of members and having an aperture therein through which said members may be inserted.

4. An overrunning clutch having in combination, a member having a cylindrical periphery, a second member coaxial with said first mentioned member and having a cylindrical surface spaced from said periphery, a multiplicity of comparatively small members disposed between said periphery and surface, the game being of generally elliptical shape in a cross section taken per-pen dicular to the axis of said members, each of said last mentioned members having its longitudinal axis at a small angle to the radius of said first mentioned member drawn to its center, a cage having portions at the ends of said last mentioned members, said last mentioned members having 1,

tion, a member having a cylindrical periphery, an annular member coaxial therewith and having a cylindrical surface spaced from said periphery and a multiplicity of members disposed between said periphery and surface of oblong shape in a cross section taken perpendicular to the axis of said members and each having its longitudinal central axis at a small angle to the radius of said first mentioned member drawn to its center, each of said last mentioned members being magnetized with one pole adjacent said periphery and th other pole adjacent said surface, and means supporting said last mentioned members in spaced relation.

6. The structure set forth in claim 1, said series of members having their adjacent surfaces in contact.

7. An overrunning clutch having in combination, a member having a cylindrical periphery, an annular member coaxial therewith and having a cylindrical surface spaced from said periphery, and a series of members disposed between said periphery and surface of substantially elliptical shape in a cross section taken perpendicular to the axis of said members and each having its longitudinal central axis at a small angle to the radius of said first mentioned member drawn to its center, each of said last mentioned members constituting a permanent magnet with one pole adjacent said periphery and the other pole adjacent said surface, said members being held in position magnetically when said clutch is disengaged.

JOHN T. GONDEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 237,071 Walter et al Jan. 25, 1881 283,759 Daft Aug. 28, 1883 1,640,871 Ballard Aug. 30, 1927 1,923,283 Stokes Aug. 22, 1933 1,952,461 Roos Mar. 27, 1934 2,035,925 Seamark Mar. 31, 1936 2,054,222 Lapsley Sept. 15, 1936 2,167,641 Dewan Aug. 1, 1939 2,217,048 Floss Oct. 8, 1940 2,300,223 Hottenroth, Jr. Oct. 27, 1942 2,366,843 Dodge et a1 Jan, 9, 1945 2,370,800 Kind et al Mar. 6, 1945 2,388,424 Lund Nov. 6, 1945 2,408,962 Swenson et al. Oct. 8, 1946 2,410,818 Grant, Jr Nov. 12, 1946 

